To all the voters of Main,

Today there are thousands of people on welfare and  there are some people that need the help because they have fallen in hard times, but there need to be limits to what they can buy with food stamps. Soda, candy or chips was a treat. Some people not everyone is doing this ,but some are taking advantage of the system, by buying foods like soda or candy, a treat, with the food stamps and the turning around and spending 20 dollars of real money to buy scratch tickets  of cigarettes. People to need the learn what is need a what is a treat,  “I learned from my mother that the finer things in life would come through hard work and completing my education”(Henry). Maine has some laws that are agreeable like “ABAWDs (able-bodied adults without dependents) have to work 20 hours a week, volunteer, or be part of a work-training program to receive benefits after three months”(Shaw). This law is in effect as of October 2015.  This way people are at least helping their community that they are taking money and giving a little back.  We need a change to the system like a limit on what people can by with the money because this is the hard earned money of the taxpayers and I do not  think I am the only one.  

There are laws being made in other states that limit the amount of this that can be bought on food stamps. Take Kansas for instance, “Kansas’ measure would prohibit recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits from spending the money on swimming pool visits, tattoos, strip clubs, movies, body piercings, massages, spas, tobacco, nail salons, lingerie, arcades, cruise ships or visits to psychics”(Henry).  I did not even know that people could do this stuff on government money, I thought that this was just the basics food, water the essentials.  Turns out the most of these people are taking advantage of this by getting cash back in stores that allow it. Once again this is not about all people here but Maine has this problem to and things are now finally taking the right step. Maine is  working to “ban the use of EBT/Food Stamps for bail, liquor, tobacco, tattoos, travel service”(“Maine GOP Takes First Step to Put Welfare”). Good I am all for it the taxpayers should not have to pay their bail.  I understand that there are going to be people that take a different stand on this topic so might even say that it is ok for them to use the money as they want, but that is not my stand.

People are against me some people think that if we put some of these laws into effect they might affect the kids of some of the families.People are afraid  “Without these benefits, families may be unable to meet children’s core basic needs, such as housing and clothing”(Lewis). People think that the kids will pay for the problems of their parents. The other problem is that there are not that many jobs and if the parents can not get a job they can not feed there family that is why they need the help. People may see ”The impact on children may be even greater now because of few job openings and family budgets already stretched due to the recession” (Lewis).There are not that many jobs out there right not that can support the family.

In Maine there are changes being made and a big problem it seems that it is the drug problem. Gov. Lepage has a problem with giving these people money so that they can feed their drug addiction, “LePage wants to expand drug-testing to all recipients”(Shaw).  If they are choosing to spend their money on drugs not food for their family, that’s wrong. Gov. Lepage wants to test because  “If someone tests positive for drugs, they are clearly putting their addiction ahead of their family’s needs”(Russell).  It is not right that we are giving money to the government to help people not the addiction. And if they test positive get them help there is free places for them to go that will help them with the problem.

A lot of problems with this system, but there are things being done to help. To get the changes made in the state of Maine we need a vote. To get the vote  “The GOP needs signatures from 62,000 ,registered Maine voters to get these issues on the ballot in November 2016”(“Maine GOP Takes First Step to Put Welfare”). This deals with the limit on food stamps not letting them use it for tobacco alcohol tattoos travel services and bail. Lepage also wants to have people work a little to get money “Maine would start requiring recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, or food stamps, to fulfill work requirements”(Russell).  That would be great so we do not have these people sitting on the couch not doing anything. I understand that not everything can be changed all at once all. We need to start to make changes in anyway possible, even wait till the vote next year, but there needs to be changed and it needs changed soon.

Works Cited

Henry, Chelsi. “Kansas and Missouri Are Right. Welfare Should Cover Only the Basics.” Washington Post. 10 Apr. 2015: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Sep. 2015.

Lewis, Matt, and Elizabeth Kenefick. “Welfare Programs Should Not Include Mandatory Drug Testing.”Welfare. Ed. Margaret Haerens. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing

Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Random Drug Testing of TANF Recipients is Costly, Ineffective, and Hurts Families.” Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), 2011. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 28 Sept. 2015.

“Maine GOP Takes First Step to Put Welfare, Tax Issues to Voters.”WGME. 23 Sept. 2015. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

Russell, Eric. “Drug Felons to Be Tested If They Want TANF Aid.” Portland Press Herald. 07 Aug. 2014: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Sep. 2015.

Shaw, Adam. “Maine Governor Opens up Ambitious New Front in Crackdown on Welfare Abuse.” Fox News. FOX News Network, 21 Apr. 2015. Web. 22 Sept. 2015.